Spotlight on Wilson Pickett, now, spotlight on...Mountain Man?
Molly Erin Sarle, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig and Amelia Randall Meath are Mountain Man. They met in Bennington, Vermont. Two of them are still at notable liberal arts college Bennington, where they're studying Performance and Gender, and Theatre and Performance, while the third, Alex, graduated last year with a degree in Literature and Visual Arts and is now a nanny.
Their music is stripped down to the point of being acapella on some tracks. Minimal guitar strums and backing music hide behind the amazing harmonies of the three ladies on others. The group's sound is commonly compared to, the "Oh Brother Where Art thou" soundtrack, which to me is not necessarily a bad thing. They do seem to sing from a place in the past, back to the old Appalachian era, recalling back woods country tunes from long ago. I would much rather have underproduced than overproduced and their record, "Made The Harbor" definitely leans more towards being underproduced. I get that with those three voices you don't need anything to distract, but at the same time I think they could do some amazing things with more instrumentation on future albums.
Either way, as it stands, "Made The Harbor" is a great album. Perfect sounds to come from your record player while getting ready for fall.
Mountain Man will also be coming to the Fox theater on Tuesday, Oct. 19th. They will be opening for Jonsi, of Sigur Ros. Tickets are $35 and available here, or at the Fox Theater Box office.
So, I was trying to pull together two mixes, one mellow and one upbeat/rockin'. After a couple days of adding to the two playlists, I ended up with about 25 songs in the mellow mix and 8 in the rockin' mix. I am just that emo, or is there a shortage of good upbeat stuff out there? It seems to me that all the uptempo music out today is that retro-rave, electro-dance shit that I just cannot get into. Where's the fun indie-pop/rock at, y'all?
Anyway, here's another chill mix. I tried to stick to my more recent acquisitions: the new Sufjan Stevens EP, new Blonde Redhead, new Jose Gonzales (in his new band, Junip), new Beach House iTunes Session, and a track from the The Strange Mistake EP I "leaked" in my last post. Btw, if any of you enjoyed that Strange Mistake EP, please send me your comments, either here or at: twolcott@gmail.com.
One of my best, and very talented, friends has been working on his first album for, well, FOREVER, and has always refused to give me any of his songs for fear of my sharing them with anybody. Well, he finally caved in and gave me 5 of the dozen or so songs that may eventually make it onto his album. And, his worst fears realized, I'm sharing them with all of you. The name of his "band" (he does everything himself) is The Strange Mistake, and I think the album will be called "Girls of the Metro". A few caveats just in case he finds out I shared this: 1. All these songs are "unmastered", so judge not audiophiles; 2. I randomly selected the album art, so expect something much better if the album ever actually comes out; and 3. I made up the tracklisting, which I'm sure will piss him off the most, but oh well. Please let me know what you think; I think it's really good, especially considering it's all self-produced.
At one point there was a new hip hop mix up that didn't suck. We got in trouble for that one and it was removed, that kind of sucked. I blame T.I. for snitching on us to try and reduce his own prison sentence.
What did I tell you about licking things you find on the ground Clifford?
I have been spending some time in the studio, formulating a diss track in retaliation. All I have so far are comments about Tiny and how he could do much better. Which isn't really an attack on him so much as a statement of my disappointment in his life choices. The hook is, "Class it up Clifford, eww she gross" repeat four times...it's still a work in progress.
If anyone missed the hip hop mix and would like to "discuss" their disappointment about that, they can send us an email at stereofattenings@gmail.com.
But that's all in the past. This post is about an indie mix. Join me behind the jump.
Atmosphere, my college sweethearts, have a tour and new EP about to drop. Non-fans categorize them as whiny and emo, but to me they were always a nice change from the crack rap and materialism of the majority of hip hop. Slug could always spit, people just didn't always like what he was spitting about. Ant's production is usually on point, some of the earlier stuff maybe a little to murky and abstract, but his later tracks have been some nice horn laced soul sample heaterz. His work on Brother Ali's, "Champion EP" was super solid. He also had another standout batch of beats on the, "Sad Clown Bad Dub Spring EP."
In support of their upcoming, To All My Friends Tour, and to wet your appetite for their next full length LP they are dropping a double EP. "To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs," will be available digitally through iTunes and Amazon September 7th (the day before the To All My Friends Tour starts.) CD copies of The Atmosphere EPs will be sold exclusively on tour and through Fifth Element.
To help build anticipation for the EP, Atmosphere is also releasing "Free Fallin'". The track can be downloaded over at Rhymesayers Radio, or by clicking the link below.
Tour Dates:
09.08 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theatre
09.09 – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Riverside Theater
09.10 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
09.11 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
09.12 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
09.15 – Bozeman, MT @ Gallatin Co. Fairgrounds
09.16 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
09.17 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
09.18 – Spokane, WA @ The Knitting Factory
09.20 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
09.21 – Bend, OR @ Midtown
09.22 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
09.24 – Chico, CA @ Senator Theater
09.25 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
09.27 – Arcata, CA @ Arcata Community Center
09.28 – Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento State University Union
09.29 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
10.01 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
10.02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
10.04 – Rapid City, SD @ Dublin Square
10.05 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Sioux Empire Fair Expo Hall
10.06 – Des Moines, IA @ People’s Court
10.07 – Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater
I Wish You Love" Is your standard that was fun I have a broken heart now but I wish you luck in your future romatical endeavors kinda song. Actually I can't think of many songs like that. Most songs seem to deal more with the loss as opposed to the acceptance of loss. Ex: every song ever written. Ok maybe not but basically most songs are either about the search for love or the loss of love. This is no exception, the main difference being the singer's acceptance of the past and the ability to not hold it against the person that they still love. Does, "It's Too Late" by Carole King kind of fit in that category? Just checked and yeah it does.
"There'll be good times again for me and you
But we just can't stay together, don't you feel it, too
Still I'm glad for what we had and how I once loved you."
These acceptance songs are kind of refreshing. Instead of wanting to burn her house down and stab any guy that gets within a 25 mile radius of her, he is like, that's cool....ouch...no really have a good time, I really do think he means it though....unlike SOME people I know, *points over shoulder at person pointing at him*....Wait...a...minute..Damn mirrors...
"My broken heart and I agree, that you and I will never be, so with my best, my very best, I set you free."
And just so you know, he isn't speaking about unlocking the cage, turning off her GPS tracking so she goes "off grid" or untieing her hands, he is talking about letting go of his hopes for reconciliation and the life that he pictured for them. At least I think so.
First up to bat is Dean Martin. You know this guy, at least I hope so. For those of you out there who don't listen to Grandpa music or are not in fact Grandpas, for shame!!
"Who the hell doesn't know who Dean Martin is? The boys at the IHOP would laugh you right outta our 11:00 AM meeting if you came in spouting some nonsense like that, "Who's Dean Martin? Why I outta...damn whippersnappers with their rappidy hop and the buttock shaking..their pony riding and wanting to make love to people, on their bended knees. I used to be able to bend my knees. Back in my day you courted you didn't freak, and a freak was something bad, not something you would embrace. Eagles were birds and butterflies were insects, when did they become burlesque show movements. These pre-pubescent children with their gyrations, it's just so tawdry. I just saw the state of Florida has a new song out, well I'll tell you something sunshine state, it's all just noise to me, noise I say!! I don't even know what an applebottom is, it used to be the bottom of an apple, but something leads me to believe it's something suspicious in this day and age. Bunch of ruckus, It's a God damn shame."
Listen to Dean's version, it's undeniably smooth. He coolly rides the rhythm. Dean never seems to exert himself, projecting a voice that just easily saunters across the melody and music that backs him. The light flourishes of strings combine for a nice airy confidence that lightly tugs on heart strings and guides you through the song. The acceptance part is prominent in this version, the unaffected vibrato of Dean's voice while slightly twinged in remorse and pain from the loss never fully emotionally bubbles to the surface. He steadfastly remains the calm crooner. When he dips to the lower registers you can feel the pain but the arrangement totters between something apt for a nice Summer day spent in a hammock and a song to be listened to while sitting alone in a parlor with a strong glass of scotch. It's playfully heartbreaking. Either way you look at it, the song is beautiful and Dean does an excellent job in his effortless translation.
Next up Sam Cooke. Ehhhhh...he's aiiiight. Nothing special...only like one of the best voices EVAR!!!! Sorry..*Puts shirt back on* Sam's choice to stretch, elongate and slow the pace of the song lends itself to a more emotional interpretation. Whereas Dean's was smoothly paced, sashaying along with the music, Sam seems to take a more laconic approach, taking his time to imbue each lyric with more bravado. His pure voice is easily able to caress each lyric and instill it with more heartbreak than Dean's. The way he uses the smoothness and purity of his voice to ride the lyrics seems to punch the song up. From the start, the first music note followed immediately by the way he dips into that first lyric is captivating. The backing music seems secondary to the prowess of Sam's voice. While Dean's is applaudable because it seems effortless, Sam's is superior because of the obvious effort that he put forth. Sam's version is just an excellent display of singing, that's a pretty song, that's a great singer, that's how you do it. The phrasing is perfect, and I can't think of a note that I would change. I love the way he stretches the words out, the perfect pitch of his voice is heart melting poppy musical goodness. So for me Sam wins, who didn't see that coming?
Way more contenders and way less words begins now.
Ever heard of this Sinatra guy? He can kind of hold his own.
Esna, Paul Dateh, and Ken Belcher take a swing at it.
Lisa Ono's take...I have no idea who she is.
Hands down winner...Rod Stewart
Nat King Cole live, Nat's always a contender in my book.
Nat's daughter, Natalie Cole.
I am a Blossom Dearie fan.
Keely Smith, who used to get down with Louis Prima. Might be the strongest female contender.
Dusty Springfield live. Not bad...
I am a fan of George's aunt, but mostly in her younger years. Unlike Nat her smokey voice does not endear her to me, it makes her sound worse in my opinion.
Chaka Khaaaan, I just wanted to say that.
Gloria Lynne
Kathy Kirby, actually pretty good. But maybe a bit too talky on some notes.
No clue who this is.
Uhh wow good job dude in his bedroom. Seriously, I really like this version.
“What up family…We’ve been incredibly busy over the last couple of weeks and are excited to announce that we have some new music ready for you! In addition to the Zion I album which we’ve been meditating on, we’re also almost done with the new Zion I & the Grouch project. Thus, we would like to present to you the first single off the new album from Z&G entitled “Leader” and backed by “One” (which has landed in the new film Step Up 3D)! We are excited to be bringing you this new music. The studio is feeling like home these days, as we’ve been living there for the past couple months. Watch us talk about the new tracks in the video below and let us know how you’re feeling the new jams. Hit us up at facebook.com/zionicrew and leave a comment about the song, or if you’re on twitter hit us up at: twitter.com/zioni, twitter.com/zumbi808, or twitter.com/amplive. Give thanks y’all, enjoy!”
- MC Zumbi of Zion I
ZION I TOUR DATES
August 12, 2010 Boston, MA – The Western Front Get Tickets
August 13, 2010 Plainfield, VT – Rhinofest Music Festival Get Tickets
